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is unparalleled; but as she possesses some little eccentricities (the illiberal may term them weaknesses), which call upon this young friend to play a part, I will not deceive you, but briefly relate the part you will have to sustain. My friend is a woman of wonderful genius, deep learning, and has not only travelled through every country which curiosity ever led a human being to explore, but has trod all of classic ground which history or science has ever celebrated. But with all these first-rate talents and advantages, she is still-a woman, and women will be sometimes vain. She is anxious to display her wonderful accomplishments; but hating the confessed egotist, and wishing not herself to obtrude her knowledge upon the admiring world, is solicitous for a well-informed companion, who can judiciously manage this important business for her.

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Now, as you have travelled too, Miss Dé Clifford, and are yourself highly accomplished, you are the very being marked out for my friend. It will be your province to watch every opportunity of winding the conversation to what must draw forth the talents of your patroness; and, as if by ac

cident, skilfully to awaken curiosity, and lead inquiry to ask those accounts of her travels in which the diversity of her acquirements can be most displayed: adroitly, too, you must draw her into argument, by never in company being of her opinion; you must, however, always take the weak side of the question, though with much ingenious sophistry, you must strive to give a plausibility to your arguments, to throw a more striking force upon hers.

"In private your task will have even less of difficulty in it, for you will have only to yield your own opinion in every thing to hers; to be silent when she is disinclined to talk to be gay when she is cheerfulto be melancholy when she is grave-in short, to simplify the task at once, it is merely to be a barometer, actuated by the mercury of her caprices."

"Oh, poverty!" said Julia, mentally, "what insults must your hapless children bear!" Her heart throbbed indignantly, but she had sufficient command over her feelings mildly to reply; but her manner spoke gracefully-impressive dignity.—" My attainments you have too much rated, madam, in supposition for my possibility to

equal being at all for situation you have kindness now to offer me. With adversity

my acquaintance has not been of time long, and dependence has not for yet my feelings conquered, for post of so much accomplished a parasite." And Julia now gracefully bowing, was about to rise.

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Nay," replied lady Selina, colouring highly, "I must request one moment's stay. Though you despise the lucrative situation I have offered to you, Miss De Clifford, perhaps my friends may prove more successful in what they have to propose."

Julia again bowed, and was reseated. "The situation I have to offer requires no sacrifice from pride," said Miss Modeley, softening the natural harshness of her voice with the most apparent care; "it will only be a demand upon amiable kindness and tender pity. It is for a young, blind rela tion of my own; a being possessed of every perfection under heaven, deprived of sight in the flower of youth, of prosperity, that I solicit your kindness."

Julia's heart throbbed with compassion, and her countenance beamed with the sweetest and most touching rays of melting pity; and eagerly she said-"I will take

this situation, dearest madam, and so soon too as you will permit for me, if I can be for use or consolation in her so great, so terrible calamity.'

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"Dear, kind creature! you quite affect me," Miss Modeley replied: "my relation is not a lady, but a man of twenty-four, transcendently handsome, amiable, and highly informed. He is a baron, and heir presumptive to an earldom; his fortune noble, his spirit more so, and is unmarried. A few months since he was deprived of sight by cataracts; and in due time, the oculists say he may successfully be couched; but as a few years must necessarily elapse before the operation can with certainty be performed, it is expedient to have some tender friend to reside with and take care of him. Unfortunately, he has neither mother nor sister; a female friend he particularly wishes for, to soothe, to comfort, and tenderly to protect him; to beguile his melancholy by her numerous accomplishments, to make his darkness perpetual day by her fascinating conversation, her melting voice, whether attuned to poetry or song-and could I make for him a more judicious choice than Miss De Clifford?

His is a most tender disposition-highly romantic, and such an admirer of beauty, that when the happy moment shall arrive in which Heaven in its kindness restores his blessed sight, who but can foresee you will find an everlasting captive in your grateful protégé ?"

Astonishment, with indignation painfully blended, agitated our heroine's mind during this most extraordinary statement; and at its conclusion, she almost believed she had been invited thither to be made a jest of. Her natural temper was sweet to perfection, but recent illness had given a degree of irritability to her nerves which she had been hitherto unacquainted with; and possessing a large share of dignified pride and innate purity, she scarcely knew how to suppress her feelings; but pride, now her best auxiliary, supported her, and with gentle sweetness, tinctured with mild impressive dignity, she replied " For very certainly, madam, pride has not here of sacrifice to make, except in suppression of the much resentment wounded delicacy has great feel for, from what for my comprehension did sound not like to the offer from propriety to young girl in search for the safe protection."

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